Electrical connector for wires subject to flexing



June 28, 1966 J. J. BRESLIN 3,258,553

ELECTRICALCONNECTOR FOR WIRES SUBJECT TO FLEXING Filed Oct. 23, 1964 qIVIIIIIII/VIIIIIKIIIIIIJ FIE--2- 2" a 77/4 INVENTOR. 4 r A JOHN J.BRESL/N BY 54 n 55 I2 3 M AZ F I Er- ATTORNEYS United States Patent3,258,553 ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR FOR WIRES SUBJECT TO FLEXING John J.Breslin, San Jose, Calif., assignor to Beamco, Inc., Mountain View,Calif., a corporation of California Filed Oct. 23, 1964, Ser. No.405,989 8 Claims. Cl. 200-51 The present invention relates to animproved electrical connector for wires which are subject to flexing,and more particularly is directed to such a connector for use with wiresextending through flexible vacuum cleaner hoses. The invention isespecially directed to an electrical connector for use in completing anelectrical control circuit which extends in part through a flexiblevacuum hose and is operable from the free end of this hose.

In the prior art, various systems have been provided wherein electricalwires are extended through flexible vacuum hoses to establish controlcircuits operable from the free ends of the hoses. These systems havebeen provided both for use with vacuum cleaners of the portable canistertype and with vacuum cleaners of the centrally located permanentinstallation type. Although the present invention is directed primarilyto the latter type, it will be seen that it has application to bothtypes. This application results because the problems overcome by thecharacter of the present invention reside primarily in the hosestructure, rather than the vacuum cleaner pump or blower structure,which hose structure is similar in large part for vacuum cleaners ofboth the canister type and the centrally located type.

The problem referred to is that of providing an electrical connector forflexible wires extending through a flexible hose, which connector willnot be adversely affected by continuous flexing of the hose. Morespecifically, the problem is to provide such a connector which will notbreak down after the hose has been in use as a result of stressesproduced in the connector during hose flexing. In the prior art, thesestresses resulted primarily because the wires extending through thehoses were rigidly secured to connector elements, as by soldering orclamping. This in turn resulted in a concentrated stress at the securingpoint when the wire flexed relative to the connector, which stresseventually resulted in breaking of the wire. The stresses in the priorart devices were aggravated even more where the wires were embrittledand weakened by heating during soldering or deformation during clamping.

It is, aCcOrdingly, a principal object of this invention to provide anelectrical connector for use with wires subject to flexing, whichconnector avoids the prior art shortcomings of the type developed above.

Another object of this invention is to provide a connector of the typedescribed which lends itself to easy assembly by eliminating therequirements of soldering or clamping.

Yet another and more specific object of this invention is to provide anelectrical connector which permits articulated movement betweenconnected elements, which movement functions to maintain the contactingsurfaces of the elements clean and electrically conductive.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide an electricalconnector of the type described which may have a switch incorporatedthereinto by simply positioning the switch terminals in juxtaposition tothe connector elements.

Another object of the invention is to provide a connector of the typedescribed which is well facilitated to have a jack probe incorporatedthereinto.

Basically, the present invention is for use in combination with aflexible fluid conveying hose having a pair of flexible electrical wiressecured thereto and extending therealong in electrically insulatedrelationship, which wires have ends extending laterally from the hose.The improved connector comprises first and second electrical conductorelements, each of which has an opening therein received on one of therespective ends of the wires. The openings are so dimensioned relativeto the ends of the wires as to be in constant electrical contacttherewith while permitting the ends to articulate relative thereto. Thebasic connector is completed by an insulator which maintains theconductor elements and the ends of the wires in spaced relationship anda device for maintaining the ends of the wires in the openings of theelements.

The foregoing and other objects of the invention and the detailedstructure and operation thereof will be more apparent when viewed inlight of the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the hose and connector combination,together with a vacuum inlet for use therewith, which inlet is shownschematically connected to a central vacuum device;

FIG. 2 is an elevational sectional view of the FIG. 1 inlet having themating hose connection inserted thereinto;

FIG. 3 is an elevational sectional view of the hose connection shown inFIG. 2, with parts thereof omitted for the sake of clarity; and,

FIG. 4 is an elevational sectional view of the electrical connector andswitch on the nozzle end of the flexible hose opposite the connectorshown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the numeral 10 thereindesignates a flexible hose having a wall supported by internallydisposed electrically conductive resilient wires 11 and 12. As can beseen from FIG. 3, the wires 11 and 12 are helically wound so as to runalong the length of the hose in side by side relationship. The hose 10has secured to one end thereof a male vacuum connector 13 and to theother end thereof a vacuum nozzle 14.

The hose 10 is adapted to be connected to a suction inlet plate 15mounted on a wall 16. The plate 15 includes a vacuum inlet opening 17which communicates with a vacuum pump 20 through a pipe 12. The opening17 may be selectively opened or closed by a lid 19, which lid is securedto the plate 15 by a spring hinge 22 normally urging it to a closedcondition. In closed condition, a seal 23 on the lid assures that thepump 20 will not draw through the opening 17.

The pump 20 has incorporated thereinto a motor (not illustrated)controlled through a relay 24. The relay 24 has power lines 25 extendingthereinto; output lines 26 extending to the motor of the pump 20; andcontrol lines 27 extending to a jack 30 mounted on the plate 15. As canbe seen from FIG. 2, the jack 30 is of conventional character andincludes a sleeve contact 31 and a central contact 32, both of which areadapted to cooperate with a jack probe 33 mounted on the connector 13,the details of which probe will be developed subsequently. The contacts31 and 32 are separated by an electrical insulator disc 29.

The structure of the suction inlet plate 15 and the pump and electricalcircuitry cooperating therewith is completed by a warning light 34mounted on the plate. Although not illustrated, this light is preferablyoperable through circuitry cooperating with the relay 24 to indicatewhen the pump 20 is in operation. This warning light is desirablebecause the pump 20 typically services a plurality of stations, each ofwhich is provided with a suction inlet plate corresponding to the plate15. In this case, if more than one plate is being used to effectvacuuming, the vacuum to each plate is necessarily decreased. Thus, ifthe user wishes full vacuum, he will only operate his inlet when thelight 34 indicates no one else is using the system.

The structure of the vacuum inlet in the wall 16 and the pump andcontrol structure cooperating therewith is generally known in the artand, accordingly, is not the subject of the present invention. Theinvention is, however, directed to the structure in the hose 1t},connector 13 and nozzle 14 which cooperates with the jack 33' tocomplete the control circuit. The latter structure includes the pair ofresilient electrical conductor wires 11 and 12 extending through thehose 10, and electrical connectors secured to these wires in both thevacuum connector 13 and vacuum nozzle 14.

The electrical connector in the vacuum connector 13 is adapted to besecured to upstanding ends 35 and 36 on the wires 11 and 12,respectively, which ends extend generally radially from the hose 16*.This connector comprises a pair of electrical conductor blocks 37 and441, which blocks have openings 41 and 42, respectively, formed thereinfor slidable reception on the ends 35 and 36. The openings 41 and 42 areso dimensioned relative to the ends 3-5 and 36 as to permit articulationtherebetween while at the same time maintaining electrical contact. Inactual practice, it has been found preferable to form the openings of adiameter exceeding that of the wire received therein by only a fewthousandths of an inch and of a depth sufficient to receive a wire endover a length at least twice its diameter. The blocks 37 and 40 areseparated by an electrical insulator block 43 interposed therebetweenand are received, together with this insulator block, in a cavity 44formed in the vacuum connector 13. It is noted that the connector 13 isof annular configuration and is formed of a resilient material, such asrubber. The connector 13 is mounted on the hose through means of a rigidtube 45 extending therethrough into secured engagement with the hose.Thus, when the blocks 37, 40 and 43 are received in the cavity 44, asshown in FIG. 2, the resilient character of the connector 13 functionsto force these blocks towards the tube 45 and maintain the ends 35 and36 into engagement with the openings 41 and 42, respectively.

The electrical connection to the blocks 37 and 40 is completed by thejack probe 33 which extends through the connector 13 and is adapted tobe received in the jack 30, as illustrated in FIG. 2. The jack probe 33simply comprises an electrically conductive outer sleeve 50; anelectrically conductive rod 51 extending concentrically through thesleeve 50 and having a head 52 thereon; and, an insulator sleeve 53interposed between the sleeve 50 and rod 51. In the assembled condition,the sleeve 50 is soldered in electrical contact with the block 40 andthe rod 51 is soldered in electrical contact with the block 37, with theinsulator sleeve 53 extending through both the blocks 40 and 43. Whenthe connector 13 is forced into the opening 17 and the jack probe 33 isinserted into the jack 30, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the head 52 engagesthe contact 32 and the sleeve 50 engages the contact 31, thusestablishing electrical connection between the wires 27 and the wires 11and 12.

FIG. 4 illustrates electrical connector in the vacuum nozzle 14 and aswitch cooperating therewith. This connector is similar to theaforedescribed electrical connector in that it is received on radiallyextending ends 54 and 55 formed on the wires 11 and 12, respectively.The ends 54 and 55 are slidably received in electrically conductiveeyelets 56 and 57, respectively, mounted in separated relationship on aninsulator board 60. The eyelets 56 and 57 define openings havingdimensional characteristics relative to the ends of the Wire extendingthereinto which correspond to those of the openings 41 and 42, describedpreviously. Specifically, these openings provide for articulatedmovement of the Wires relative to the eyelets while maintainingelectrical contact therebetween. The nozzle 14 is secured to the hose 10by sleeve 62 fixed to the hose and extending through the nozzle insecured engagement therewith. In the assembled condition, the wire ends54 and 55 are interposed between the sleeve 62 and the nozzle body andthus are maintained in engagement with the eyelets 56 and 57 asillustrated.

The electrical connection in the nozzle 14- is completed by a switch 63having terminals 64 and 65 juxtaposed in electrical contact with theeyelets 56 and 57, respectively. The switch 63 is maintained injuxtaposed relationship with the eyelets by a cap 65 extending thereoverand secured in place by screws 66 threadedly engaging nuts 61 fixed tothe body of the nozzle 14. Positioning and ease of assembly of theswitch 63 under the cap 65 is facilitated by ears 67 and 70 havingopenings therein (not illustrated) received on the screws 66. The board60 is similarly positioned by U-shaped notches 71 and 72 formed in theends thereof and slidably received on the nuts 61. Once the connectionto the nozzle is complete and the connector 13 is seated in the opening17, as shown in FIG. 2, the control circuit for the motor of the pump 20is complete and the pump may be readily turned on and off throughoperation of the switch 63.

To conclude, from the-foregoing description it is believed apparent thatthe present invention enables the accomplishment of the objectsinitially set forth herein. In particular, an electrical connector isprovided wherein the connected elements are slidably engaged formovement relative to each other, thus providing for such movementwithout strain. The slidable nature of the engaged elements isparticularly desirable, since it facilitates ease of assembly withoutthe necessity of the steps involved where soldering or clampingconnections are used. It is noted that the subject connect-or isparticularly well suited for use in establishing electrical connectionsto the resilient coil supporting wires for vacuum hoses, since itutilizes the resilient characteristics of these wires to enhance theelectrical connect-ion. Specifically, the resilient nature of thesewires tends to force them into contact with the Walls of the connectoropenings in which they are engaged. This results because these wires areresiliently held in spaced relationship with respect to each other andany disturbance of this relationship, such as that which may occur whenthe connection is made or the hose is flexed, is resiliently resisted.

It is to be understood that the invention is not intended to be limitedto the details of the specific embodiment illustrated and described, butrather is defined by the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with a flexible fluid conveying hose having a pair offlexible electrical wires secured thereto and extending therealong inelectrically insulated relationship, said Wires having ends extendinglaterally from said hose, an improved electrical connector for saidwires comprising:

(a) first and second electrical conductor elements,

each of which has an opening therein slidably received on one of therespective ends of said wires, said openings being so dimensionedrelative to said ends as to be in constant electrical contact therewithwhile permitting said ends to articulate relative thereto;

(b) insulating means maintaining said elements and the ends of saidwires in spaced relationship; and,

(c) securing means maintaining the ends of said Wires slidably receivedin the openings in said elements.

2. A combination according to claim 1, wherein:

(a) the ends of said wires extend substantially radially from said hose;and,

(b) said securing means comprises:

(1) a substantially rigid sleeve secured in axial alignment wit-h saidhose to the interior of said ends;

('2) an annular member extending around said sleeve; and,

(3) biasing means on said annular member forcing said conductor elementstowards said sleeve.

3. A combination according to claim 2, wherein:

(a) said annular member is resilient; and,

(b) said biasing means comprises a pocket formed in said annular memberand extending over said conductor elements in snug engagement therewith.

4. A combination according to claim 1, wherein:

(a) each of said wires forms a resilient helix disposed to support thewall of said hose; and,

(b) the resiliency of said helicies functions to bias the ends of saidwires against the interior of the openings of the respective conductorelements in which said ends are received.

5. A combination according to claim 1, wherein:

(a) said insulating means comprises a block of insulating material; and,

(b) said first and second conductor elements are juxtaposed to opposedsides of said block with the openings therein facing in the samedirection.

6. A combination according to claim 5, including a plug-in probecomprising:

(a) an electrically conductive sleeve fixed in electrical contact withsaid first element and extending laterally therefrom away from saidinsulating block;

(lb) an electrically conductive rod extending through said sleeve, firstelement and block into fixed electrical contact with said secondelement; and,

(c) an electrical insulating sleeve interposed between said conductivesleeve and said rod, said insulating sleeve being efiective toelectrically isolate said rod [from both said conductive sleeve and saidfirst element.

7. A combination acccording to claim 1, wherein:

(a) said insulating means comprises a board of insulating material;

(b) said first and second conductor elements each comprise an electricalconductive eyelet mounted in and extending through said board, saideyelets being mounted in spaced relationship on said board; and,

(c) the openings in said first and second conductor elements are definedby the eyes in said respective eyelets.

8. A combination according to claim 7, including:

(a) a switch having terminals which are spaced apart by a distancecorresponding to the distance between said eyelets and are selectivelyconne-ctable to establish an electrical connection therebetween; and,

(b) means to mount said switch with said terminals juxtaposed inelectrical contact with said eyelets.

References Cited by the Applicant UNITED STATES PATENTS 3/ 1956 Duif.

3/ 1957 Duff. 10/1960 Beach. 11/ 1960 Oarabet. 12/ 1960 Pavlic.

I 8/ 1961 Pavlic.

1. IN COMBINATION WITH A FLEXIBLE FLUID CONVEYING HOSE HAVING A PAIR OFFLEXIBLE ELECTRICAL WIRES SECURED THERETO AND EXTENDING THEREALONG INELECTRICALLY INSULATED RELATIONSHIP, SAID WIRES HAVING EXTENDINGLATERALLY FROM SAID HOSE, AND IMPROVED ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR FOR SAIDWIRES COMPRISING: (A) FIRST AND SECOND ELECTRICAL CONDUCTOR ELEMENTS,EACH OF WHICH HAS AN OPENING THEREIN SLIDABLY RECEIVED ONE OF THERESPECTIVE ENDS OF SAID WIRES, SAID OPENINGS BEING SO DIMENSIONEDRELATIVE TO SAID ENDS AS TO BE IN CONSTANT ELECTRICAL CONTACT THEREWITHWHILE PERMITTING SAID ENDS TO ACTICULATE RELATIVE THERETO; (B)INSULATING MEANS MAINTAINING SAID ELEMENTS AND THE ENDS OF SAID WIRES INSPACED RELATIONSHIP; AND, (C) SECURING MEANS MAINTAINING THE ENDS OFDSAID WIRES SLIDABLY RECEIVED IN THE OPENINGS IN SAID ELEMENTS.